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Editorial
Augustine O Okhamafe Editor-in-Chief
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]
Trop J Pharm Res, June 2002; 1(1): 1-2
Never in human history has man witnessed phenomenal advances in science and technology such as we are seeing today. These rapid advances have had, and continue to have, profound impact on all human spheres and activities ranging from agriculture, health, education and industry to leisure, communication, and even terrorism and warfare. In the area of research, computers and digital technology have facilitated the development of ultra-sensitive, high precision equipment for characterising and measuring trace amounts of substances in body fluids. Health sciences and related disciplines have benefited tremendously from this development. The result is a very substantial increase in research quality and output. Happily, publishers have risen to the challenge as evidenced by the proliferation of mostly good quality journals and books several of which are highly specialised. Furthermore, there are now far more are international conferences, symposia and workshops in health - related disciplines than a decade ago.
However, researchers in the less developed countries (LDCs) have, over the decades, been minor, or perhaps more accurately, fringe players in research and development activities. Incidentally, most of the LDCs fall within the tropical belt of the earth which continue to be ravaged by the devastating combination of conflicts, poverty, and in several cases, poor governance. The tropics is also inhabited by close to half of the world population and a greater part of which is still plagued by diseases such as malaria, cholera, sickle cell anaemia, tuberculosis and leprosy. In recent years, HIV/AIDS has become a major scourge in Africa, especially the eastern and southern sub-regions of the continent. More, the formidable challenge posed by the combination of high temperature and humidity that is characteristic of the tropical climate means that pharmaceutical processes and products must take into consideration this climatic peculiarity. If you add to this the well known fact that the tropical rain forest is replete with several thousand plant species, hundreds of which have therapeutic potentials that are yet to be harnessed, then you will see the need for a pharmaceutical journal that will pay greater attention to tropical therapeutic issues than other journals.
The Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research is an online international journal that is committed to the promotion of research and dissemination of knowledge in pharmaceutical sciences and related disciplines including biotechnology, gene therapy, molecular and cell biology, therapeutics, medical and life sciences. It seeks particularly, but by no means exclusively, to encourage health-related research of tropical relevance as well as multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral collaboration among scientists and practitioners, and thus provide an international platform for the evaluation and communication of methods, data and findings in the fields indicated.
It is my pleasure to present to you this maiden issue of the Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research.
Experimental and modeling studies of mass transfer in microencapsulated cell systems
Mattheus F. A. Goosen
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 33, Muscat 123, Sultanate of Oman. Fax: (968) 513-416. E-mail: [email protected] (Business); [email protected] (Home)
Trop J Pharm Res, June 2002; 1(1): 3-14
Abstract
Gaining a better understanding of mass transfer problems in encapsulated cell systems and in tissue engineering requires both experimental investigations and mathematical modelling. Specific mass transfer studies are reviewed including oxygen transfer in immobilised animal cell culture systems, modelling of electrostatic polymer droplet formation, and growth of plant somatic tissue encapsulated in alginate using electrostatics.
Novel colorimetric assay of mefenamic acid using 4-amino-3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid (ADBA)
SO Idowu†, SC Tambo, AO Adegoke and AA Olaniyi
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
Trop J Pharm Res, June 2002; 1(1): 15-22
Abstract
Purpose: To develop a novel colorimetric assay method for mefenamic acid capsules.
Method: The new method (aromatic ring derivatization technique) is based on a diazo coupling reaction using diazotized 4-amino-3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid (ADBA) as a chromogenic derivatizing reagent.
Result: Optimization studies showed that the coupling reaction is very fast and completed in less than 1 minute. A 1:1 drug to reagent stoichiometric ratio was obtained for the azo dye formed. The azo adduct formed exhibits bathochromic shift with absorption maximum (lmax) at 490 nm, which was selected as the analytical wavelength. Lower limit of quantitation of mefenamic acid was 1 mg/ml. The assays were linear over the concentration range of 1 - 6 mg/ml and reproducible. This new method has been successfully applied in the assay of mefenamic acid capsules with accuracy similar to the official (B.P) titrimetric method of assay (p>0.05) and has the advantages of speed, high sensitivity, lower limit of detection and can be automated.
Conclusion: The method developed could find application in in-process quality control of mefenamic acid capsules.
Keywords: Mefenamic acid assay, 4-amino-3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid, colorimetry, diazotization
Aspects of microbial contamination of tablets dispensed in hospitals and community pharmacies in Benin City, Nigeria
John O. Akerele† and Godwin C. Ukoh
Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.
Trop J Pharm Res, June 2002; 1(1): 23-28
Abstract
Purpose: A research was carried out to investigate the incidence of microflora in tablets dispensed from large container packages used in hospitals and community pharmacies. It was designed to provide base-line data on the common biodegrading microorganisms associated with tablets in retail containers and to highlight the health implications of such observations and roles for pharmacists in self medication phenomenon in Nigeria.
Methods: The protocol for the study involved structured selection of representative named tablets from some public hospitals and community pharmacies within Benin metropolis. Constitutive microorganisms were elaborated and enumerated using standard microbiological protocols.
Results: Our results showed that all the tablets sampled had some form of microbial growth. However, aerobic mesophilic bacteria and fungi observed were within standard numerical limits. It was additionally observed that ascorbic acid and folic acid tablets, particularly from the community pharmacies failed the exclusive criteria for Enterobactereacea and Staphylococci. Tablets from public hospitals in general have lower incidence of exclusive microbial contamination, compared with community pharmacies.
Conclusion: Tablets packed in large containers in retail pharmacies in Benin City are often contaminated with microbial growth. This has possible adverse consequences for those who obtain drugs stored in large containers.
Keywords: Microflora, tablets, retail packs, hospitals, community pharmacies.
Preliminary investigation into the use of Pleurotus tuber-regium powder as a tablet disintegrant
Magnus A Iwuagwu† and Anthony O Onyekweli
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
Trop J Pharm Res, June 2002; 1(1): 29-37
Abstract
Some physical characteristics of the powder obtained from the mycelia of a giant edible mushroom, Pleurotus tuber-regium, has been determined. Its disintegrant ability in comparison with maize starch BP was also investigated in paracetamol tablets prepared via the wet granulation method. The results obtained showed that P. tuber-regium and maize starch BP have similar true, bulk and tapped density values. The Pleurotus powder however, showed superior flow, swelling capacity as well as water retention capacity to maize starch BP. The swelling capacity was three times that of maize starch BP Tablets prepared with P. tuber-regium powder disintegrated faster than those prepared with maize starch BP at concentrations below 10% w/w. At the disintegrant concentration of 10% w/w paracetamol tablets made from both Pleurotus powder and maize starch BP had similar disintegration times and dissolution profiles. It is believed that the ability of Pleurotus powder to swell by over three times its volume in the presence of water may explain its disintegrant ability. Pleurotus tuber-regium powder may therefore be used as an alternative to maize starch BP as a disintegrant in tableting.
Key words: Pleurotus tuber-regium, physical characteristics, paracetamol
Snake bites in Nigeria: A study of the prevalence and treatment in Benin City
Eric K. I. Omogbai†, Zuleikha A. M. Nworgu, Michael A. Imhafidon, Anwakang A. Ikpeme, David O. Ojo and Charles N. Nwako
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
Trop J Pharm Res, June 2002; 1(1): 39-44
Abstract
Purpose: Although snake bites occur frequently in Benin City, the prevalence has not been documented. This study was therefore done to determine the prevalence, morbidity, mortality, and the orthodox treatment of victims.
Methods: The study was retrospective and data on victims of snake bite covering a period of twenty years were obtained from the records as contained in the individual patients’ case files available at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Central Hospital, Benin City.
Results: Males were twice more often bitten than females, and teenagers and youths in their early twenties constituted the peak age range of victims. Most victims (59.5%) were bitten in the bush or farm. The limbs were the commonest sites of bite with the feet (73.5%) and arms (20.9%) more frequently bitten; both the upper and lower right limbs were also more frequently bitten than the corresponding left limbs. All patients who showed symptoms of envenomation (68.3%) received polyvalent antivenom, 67.4% received antibiotics while over 90% of patients received antitetanus prophylaxis. Some of the patients (61.5 %) were treated with analgesics, while 17.2% and 82.3% received diazepam and intravenous fluids, respectively. Although there was a high degree of morbidity as shown by the long stay of many patients in the hospital (mean duration of stay by patients in hospital is 5.7±5.1 days; range <1-23 days), mortality was not recorded.
Conclusion: It is concluded that there is a high prevalence of snake bites with high morbidity especially among the very active youthful segment of the Benin City population.
Key words: Snakebite, prevalence, treatment, Benin City.
Effect of acid treatment on the consolidation and plasto-elasticity of tapioca powder
Florence E Eichie† and Roland S Okor
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Benin, P.M.B. 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.
Trop J Pharm Res, June 2002; 1(1): 45-49
Abstract
Purpose: The effects of treating the tapioca (the fibrous residue obtained after up to 90% of the proportion of starch has been removed from the peeled and rasped roots of cassava tubers powder with dilute solutions of hydrochloric acid) in order to find an approach for rendering an otherwise poorly compressible material to a directly compressible powder.
Method: The parameters measured were the degree of consolidation of the powder after compression (i.e. the packing fraction of resulting tablets), the plasto-elasticity of the powders as reflected by the brittle fracture index (BFI) of the tablets made from the powders and the viscosities of mucilages derived from the powders. The influence of time of exposure and the concentration of acid used in the treatment were studied.
Results: The degree of consolidation of the powder increased slightly with increase in duration of exposure to acid (24 — 72 h) but drastically with increase in the acid concentration from 0.1 to 0.4 mol. L—1. On the other hand, the plasto-elasticity of the powders as measured by the BFI values and the viscosities of mucilages derived from the powders decreased slightly with duration of exposure but drastically with increase in acid concentration. A change in acid concentration was therefore the more determinant factor with regards to the consolidation and plasto-elasticity properties of the powders. The decrease in the viscosities of the mucilages following acid treatment of the powders was indicative of a breakdown of polymeric structure in the powder
Conclusion: Acid treatment of tapioca powder imparted plasticity in tapioca powder which became compressible.
Key words: Plasto-elasticity, brittle fracture index, tapioca powder.